A Capitol time for health care for everyone

Representatives Mike Foote and Jonathon Singer, and Senator Matt Jones sponsored East Boulder County Day at the Capitol on Mar 10. Constituents spent an interesting day visiting the House and Senate floors to observe debate and votes on various bills.

However, the most informative part of the day included presentations by speakers from the Colorado Fiscal Institute, speaking on TABOR, and from the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, speaking about the American Health Care Act (TrumpCare). Their speakers made it clear that if TrumpCare is passed and signed into law, the drastically reduced federal spending in Medicaid would shift Medicaid costs to states—an additional huge strain on the state budgets. TABOR limitations on taxing authority already have placed great stress on the Colorado state budget; it’s almost impossible to imagine it absorbing more Medicaid costs.

According to a statement from Families USA, “About 24 million people would ultimately lose health coverage, and Medicaid would be cut by $880 billion (over 10 years), threatening the safety net of millions of children, seniors, and people with disabilities who depend on the program.”

TrumpCare would be a man-made disaster, with people in Colorado dying for lack of health care. Hundreds of health care professionals would lose their jobs. Medical clinics and hospitals would close, affecting especially rural communities.

It’s time to ask Colorado State Senators and Representatives if they are finally ready to do the right thing, the only thing that will address this impossible situation: Create a pathway to Guaranteed Health Care for Everyone. Are they finally ready to enact legislation that would expand access to Medicare for all? We, the people, are ready for real health care reform. No more complexity and chaos. We need Guaranteed Health Care for Everyone.

Here are some tips for talking with your elected officials about health care for everyone: